Canadian Dwayne De Rosario, right, hopes to propel Toronto FC into the playoffs for the first time. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)Major League Soccer on CBC returns for its third season on Saturday, April 4 when Toronto FC plays its home opener against the expansion Seattle Sounders (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 3:30 p.m. ET).
The game will mark the homefield debut of Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. The two-time MLS Cup most valuable player, who joined Toronto FC in an off-season deal, will look to help Canada's only MLS club reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
CBC Sports will broadcast 11 Toronto FC games this season, including matchups with the defending champion Columbus Crew (May 2), the Eastern Conference power Chicago Fire (May 16), and the Western Conference heavyweight Houston Dynamo, De Rosario's former team (July 18).
Gemini Award winner Scott Russell returns as the host of Major League Soccer on CBC. Nigel Reed, a former host and producer for the BBC's English Premier League coverage, will be back in the booth calling play-by-play alongside analyst Jason de Vos, a former captain of Canada's national team. CBC Sports veteran Brenda Irving reports from the sidelines.
CBCSports.ca will provide live and on-demand coverage of all Major League Soccer on CBC broadcasts, in addition to Toronto FC and MLS highlights.
CBC's digital channel, bold, will provide live simulcast coverage of the games on May 2 and May 16.
